| Four wheel drives used to be rugged, no-thrills | | | | has plenty of torque at low revs making it a good |
| vehicles with few creature comforts. Not | | | | proposition for going off road. However, at around |
| anymore. | | | | $75,000 brand new, you'll want to make sure that |
| There was a time when the four wheel drive | | | | you don't get too many scratches from |
| market was restricted to rugged, no-thrills | | | | overhanging branches. At the other end of the |
| vehicles with little or no creature comforts aimed | | | | spectrum is the ML55 AMG 5.4 litre five door |
| almost exclusively at outdoor adventurers, | | | | wagon, which will cost you a little more than |
| hunters and farmers. Not anymore. The Range | | | | $140,000. At this price, you'll probably want to |
| Rover, Toyota Landcruiser. Mitsubishi Pajero and | | | | keep this one firmly on the tar. |
| Nissan Patrol have all brought the four wheel drive | | | | If looking for a used car, buy one from 2000 |
| market into the realms of luxury motoring. And | | | | onwards as earlier models had some problems. |
| over the past few years, even more luxurious | | | | Also, go for a newer model that is still covered |
| models have hit the Australian market, with | | | | by warranty |
| Porsche, BMW, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen all | | | | Porsche Cayenne |
| introducing their own line of prestige four wheel | | | | For Porsche to jump onto the four wheel drive |
| drive vehicles. Here we look at some of these | | | | bandwagon, you know that it must be a market |
| blueblood four wheel drives. | | | | that cannot be ignored. Long regarded as a |
| The BMW X3 and X5 | | | | purebred German sports carmaker, Porsche has |
| BMW was one of the first of the luxury marques | | | | produced what is arguably the fastest four wheel |
| to introduce its version of the off-road vehicle | | | | drive on Australian roads with the Cayenne. It will |
| into the Australian market with the X5. The BMW | | | | comfortably cruise at more than 200 km/h |
| X5 is a stylish four wheel drive vehicle, which is | | | | thanks to the 4.5 litre V8 engine. There are two |
| exactly what you'd expect from the German | | | | models available: the Cayenne S, priced new at |
| carmaker. While it's a four wheel drive, BMW | | | | around $137,000 and the Cayenne Turbo which |
| doesn't pretend that this is for the serious | | | | will set you back around $204,000. If you can't |
| off-roader. Instead, they point out its very | | | | afford this price tag, perhaps look at the VW |
| impressive on-road capabilities including its quick | | | | Touareg. |
| acceleration and smooth ride. The BMW X5 is | | | | Volkswagen Touareg |
| available in 3 litre petrol and diesel versions, a 4.4 | | | | If the Porsche Cayenne is just a little out of your |
| litre, and the top of the line 4.9 litre model. There's | | | | price range, then perhaps you should consider this |
| also the smaller and less expensive X3 with a 2.5 | | | | VW off-roader. In fact, the Touareg was |
| litre or 3 litre 5 door wagon. New car prices for | | | | designed in conjunction with the Cayenne, so |
| the BMW X3 start from around $65,000 while the | | | | there will be more than a few similarities between |
| BMW X5 starts from around $81,000. | | | | these two prestige vehicles. The Touareg can also |
| If looking for a used car, check for any signs of | | | | reach the 200 km/h mark on the highway, and |
| damage from off-roading. As most are strictly | | | | it's off road capabilities are assisted by its |
| city cars, you'll be best buying one that has never | | | | electronic traction aids. With plenty of room inside, |
| left the tar. Also, look for a car that still has a | | | | it can fit three adults across the back seat, the |
| warranty, as BMWs can prove expensive to fix. | | | | Touareg may just be the right car to impress |
| The M-Class Mercedes Benz | | | | your friends with in the bush. Prices for new cars |
| The Mercedes Benz M-Class has been a success | | | | range from around $67,000 to $138,000 for the |
| story in Australia thanks to its ability both on and | | | | V10 5 litre model. If looking for a good used car, |
| off the road. Of course, the prestige of owning a | | | | go for a one owner that is still covered by |
| Mercedes Benz also helps with this vehicle's | | | | warranty, and check for any off-road damage, |
| popularity. The M-Class comes in both petrol and | | | | although like most of these prestige four wheel |
| diesel engines. The ML270 CDI Classic turbo diesel | | | | drives, most have probably never seen the dirt. |